METAL CLAY CLASSES AT JEMCO JEWELERS SUPPLY
AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, & NOVEMBER 2011
(October is still "in the works" — check www.jemcousa.com)
(Class Instructor: Loretta Hackman)

 CHANGE IN SCHEDULE!!! CLASSES HAVE BEEN ADDED FOR THE WEEKEND OF AUGUST 19-20. ALSO, EXTRA OPEN STUDIO TIMES HAVE BEEN ADDED FOR NOVEMBER (GET A JUMP ON YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT-CREATING!). CHECK BELOW FOR DETAILS.

 Pre-registration is required for all classes. Class size is generally limited to six. Please call Jemco to pre-register (call John at 713-541-4242) and have your class materials and supplies ready prior to the start of class.

NOTES - We are very fortunate to be able to offer classes directly in Jemco´s retail facility. Although the store is officially closed during most classes, shopping is available to students before and during class.
1. Instructor provides task lamps for use during class.
2. Although not mandatory, magnifying visors are highly recommended for all students. The folks at Jemco can help you find your best fit.
3. *Class kits are available for in-class use for Beginner students taking their first class. For subsequent classes, please plan to bring your own kit. Jemco has an excellent "expanded" starter kit available for under $50.
4. **Intermediate and Advanced students and Open Studio participants are advised to bring their own kits. (Jemco has an excellent "expanded" starter kit available for under $50.)

Friday — August 5 — 5:30 p.m. — Elemental Copper (Beginner´s Level; $65 + materials; please bring your own copper clay work kit***) - 4-hours— An introduction to basic metal clay techniques (slab-forming, seam-construction, coil-rolling, and elemental bead construction) in quick-fire COPPER CLAY! We will focus on creating simple beads, easy pendants, and other design elements. (***Important Note: Separate tools must be used for projects in copper clay and silver clay. Contamination of silver clay tools with copper clay (and vice versa) will prevent proper sintering. We strongly recommend Jemco´s "Elemental Copper" tool kit. This is a basic metal clay tool kit that is ideal for most copper clay projects.)

Saturday—August 6—2:00 p.m.—Once-Fired Contiguous Copper Links (Intermediate Level; $65 + materials; please bring your own copper clay work kit***) — 4-hours - Create a series of contiguous links with copper clay all in a single firing. This project requires comfort in coil-rolling, slab-forming, and link-construction techniques. Some previous metal clay experience is recommended, but brave beginners should do just fine. (***Important Note: Separate tools must be used for projects in copper clay and silver clay. Contamination of silver clay tools with copper clay (and vice versa) will prevent proper sintering.)

Friday — August 19 — 5:30 p.m. — Once-Fired Contiguous Silver Links (Intermediate Level; $65 + materials; please bring your own work kit**) — 4-hours - Create a series of contiguous silver links all in a single firing. This project requires comfort in coil-rolling, slab-forming, and link-construction. Some previous metal clay experience is recommended, but brave beginners should do just fine.

Saturday — August 20 — 2:00 p.m. — Simple Rings (Beginner´s Level; $65 + materials; class kits are available for use by first-time students) — 4-hours - Using fine silver clay, a syringe of silver clay, and CZs or fire-ready gemstones (optional), students will learn to size and create one or two rings (depending on size and weight of rings) with embellishment at the join. (NOTE: due to popular request, this class will be repeated on Saturday, September 10th!)

Friday/Saturday—August 26/27—(Friday 5:30/Saturday 2:00) - Firing Dichroic Glass in Silver Clay (Intermediate Level; $110 + materials; please bring your own silver clay work kit**) - 8-hours—This two-session class introduces the intermediate metal clay artist to the opportunity to "set" beautiful dichroic glass in low-fire silver clay. Friday´s class will focus on design and construction. Firing will take place overnight. Saturday´s class will focus on finishing techniques, including hand-finishing, tumble-finishing, and patination.

Saturday — August 27 — 10:00 a.m. — Open Studio - 4-hours — The studio is open for your efforts and enjoyment! The dehydrator, kiln, tumbler, and chemicals will be up and running and your classmates will want to hear your metal clay stories! This is a great time to share techniques while working on your piece-in-progress. (NOTE: This is not a teaching session. Some independence in working with metal clay is necessary. Although some tools will be available, we advise that you bring your own work kit for comfort!**)

Friday — September 9 — 5:30 p.m. — Fold-over Pendant (Beginner´s Level; $65 + materials; class kits are available for use by first-time students) — 4-hours - Students will design and create a simple (and fully reversible!) piece using fine silver clay and a Cubic Zirconia (CZ). You will learn slab-forming, stone-setting, and seaming techniques and will leave class with an occasion-ready pendant!

Saturday — September 10 — 2:00 p.m. — Simple Rings (Beginner´s Level; $65 + materials; class kits are available for use by first-time students) — 4-hours - Channel your inner Jack Sparrow and create a one-of-a-king baroque ring!  Using fine silver clay, a syringe of silver clay, and CZs or fire-ready gemstones (optional), students will learn to size and create one or two rings (depending on size and weight of rings) with embellishment at the join.

Friday/Saturday — September 16/17 (Friday 5:30-9:30/Saturday 2:00-6:00) — From .jpg to Fine Silver Jewelry… Converting Your Art into Photopolymer Plates (Intermediate Level; $110 + materials*) — 8-hours — Bring .jpgs of your original black-and-white art, photographs, or copy-ready clip art, along with your own silver clay work kit. On Friday, we will create texture plates using your original art. On Friday and Saturday, you will use those texture plates to create truly original fine silver jewelry. This technique applies very well to pendants, panel bracelets, and shield rings. Having previous experience in metal clay will increase your appreciation for this fascinating technique. (CRITICAL NOTE: the .jpg art that you bring must be strictly black-and-white (NO GREYSCALE!). You can bring your art to class on a flash drive or a disc or e-mail it to Loretta Hackman at LMHackman@windstream.net prior to class.)

Saturday — September 17 — 10:00 a.m. — Open Studio - 4-hours — The studio is open for your efforts and enjoyment! The dehydrator, kiln, tumbler, and chemicals will be up and running and your classmates will want to hear your metal clay stories! This is a great time to share techniques while working on your piece-in-progress. (NOTE: This is not a teaching session. Some independence in working with metal clay is necessary. Although some tools will be available, we advise that you bring your own work kit for comfort!**)

Friday/Saturday — September 23/24 (Friday 5:30-9:30/Saturday 2:00-6:00) — Introduction to Silver Metal Clay: Tools & Techniques Workshop (All Skill Levels welcome; $110 + materials*) — 8-hours — Students will be introduced to a variety of silver clay products (lump, syringe, and slip/paste) and will learn the basic techniques that drive most metal clay design projects and the tools that support them. We will study seam construction, creating beads, setting CZs or fire-ready gemstones, bail design, finishing techniques, patination, and much more while you create original fine silver jewelry. 

Friday — November 11 — 5:30 p.m. — Simple Gifts… Creating Unique Gifts with Silver Clay (Beginner´s Level; $65 + materials) - Just in time for the holidays! This class will introduce you to the ease with which you can create simple pendants, charms, and earring elements with silver clay. In just four short hours, you can leave with holiday gift sets of fine silver jewelry ready to wrap!

Saturday — November 12 — 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and 2:00-6:00 p.m. — Open Studio - 4-hours each ($35 per 4-hour session) —The studio is open for your efforts and enjoyment! The dehydrator, kiln, tumbler, and chemicals will be up and running and your classmates will want to hear your metal clay stories! This is a great time to share techniques while working on your piece-in-progress. (NOTE: This is not a teaching session. Some independence in working with metal clay is necessary. Although some tools will be available, we advise that you bring your own work kit for comfort!**)

Friday/Saturday — November 18 & 19 — Friday 5:30 p.m./Saturday 2:00 p.m. — By Hook or By Crook… Combining Copper Clay and Silver Clay Elements (Intermediate Level; $110 + materials; please bring your own work kits***) — 8-hours - On Friday, students will create and complete elements in copper clay which will be incorporated with silver clay on Saturday. This class is a wonderful introduction to techniques that are still being developed to "join" these two metal clays, taking into account the facts that: (1) they cannot be fired in the same piece at the same time and (2) they don´t attach to one another. This should be a fun and fascinating class. (***Important Note: Separate tools must be used for projects in copper clay and silver clay. Contamination of silver clay tools with copper clay (and vice versa) will prevent proper sintering. Each student will need to have two separate tool kits: a Copper kit for Friday and a Silver kit for Saturday.)

Saturday — November 19 — 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.— Open Studio - 4-hours ($35 per 4-hour session) — The studio is open for your efforts and enjoyment! The dehydrator, kiln, tumbler, and chemicals will be up and running and your classmates will want to hear your metal clay stories! This is a great time to share techniques while working on your piece-in-progress. (NOTE: This is not a teaching session. Some independence in working with metal clay is necessary. Although some tools will be available, we advise that you bring your own work kit for comfort!**)

JEMCO JEWELERS SUPPLY IS LOCATED AT 9000 Southwest Freeway, Suite #300, Houston, TX 77074.  It is on the southbound service road of Hwy. 59, just south of S. Gessner.  To reserve your spot in a class, call John at 713-541-4242.  If you have any questions about a class, please call Loretta Hackman at 281-513-2322.

 




Related Links

Classes at L´OreStones Studio Contact Loretta Hackman to register for L´OreStones Studio classes.

Classes at Jemco Jewelers Supply Contact John Peterson to register for classes at Jemco.